Lisa Freeman
Lisa Freeman: When my husband was 37 years old, he was the victim of serious medical harm “routine surgery,” that left him paralyzed, with MRSA surgical site infection and with hypoxic brain damage.
Rory died when he was 56 years old as a complication of his surgery. Having learned so much about a patient and family’s experience during his many hospitalizations, recurring infections, chronic organ failure and injuries caused by his fragile state, it seemed like the natural next step for me to get involved in health care advocacy after his death. I do not want others to experience what our family experienced. I am currently the Executive Director of the Connecticut Center for Patient Safety. We provide educational workshops on various patient safety issues to medical students, nurses and other health science students as well as community workshops to empower patients. I am involved with numerous programs supporting person-centered care, advanced care planning and shared decision making. I am also representing the patient perspective and working on patient safety at the state and national levels including the CT DPH-HAI multidisciplinary committee, APCD Data Release Committee, CT Board of Nursing, NQF, PCORI, and other organizations.